Laysara: Summit Kingdom is a challenging city builder about managing settlements in the high mountains. Carefully plan your production chains, trade networks and avalanche survival strategies to satisfy the needs of your citizens (and yaks) and make the Kingdom of Laysara thrive in this new game by Quite OK Games and Future Friends Games.
A copy of this game was provided for the purposes of this review.
In Laysara: Summit Kingdom, you are guiding settlers out of a thick mist that has overtaken the world. They now must head into the mountains to create a new settlement, expanding across the various levels and different terrains. The ultimate goal is to reach the peak to place a temple there, but it will take significant expansion and surviving the tumultuous circumstances to do so.
You start by choosing a mountain range to settle on, which have different benefits and resources, and create homes for the residents, which include three types: lowland workers, artisans, and monks. Each type will work in different positions to aid the settlement be it tending the farms for food, crafting supplies, or generating research. In order to grow these homes, you need to satisfy various needs that become more complex over time. The complexity is not to be dismissed as this game really does get more difficult as you unlock more and more options.
There are different difficulty levels as well as different game modes depending on what you’d like to do. There is a free play mode with no limitations and challenge mode that has short but hard scenarios. In development is a campaign mode which I imagine will have more story-focused gameplay across the various mountain ranges.
As with many building games, finances play a significant role. Money is limited but can be generated, so finding that perfect balance is necessary. This part in particular I wish was better explained in the tutorial as the treasury portion specifically I don’t fully understand. Especially since money is the “game over” mechanic, ending your game when you have no more money.
One thing I want to highlight specifically is the art style and overall look of the game, which is amazing. Even at lower visual settings this game is stunning. You can truly see how gloriously grand you can make your civilization atop these enormous mountains. The music and sound effects also really support the atmosphere and grandeur of the game as you go while also keeping it a relaxed experience.
Overall, Laysara: Summit Kingdom is a great game for experienced city-building gamers and novices. It is beautiful and complex without feeling stressful, although there is more of a learning curve for those who are newer to this genre of game.
Laysara: Summit Kingdom is available early access on PC now!